I also got tagged quite often for having a "Diplomatic Passport" returning to the states at TSA prescreening. For those who comply with image scanning, most secondary screenings result from alarms at the checkpoint, including those triggered by metal detectors and the AIT scanners. When I came back to the USA I was asked how long have I been out of the USA and do I have a job from passport control. All four were loaded. The first screening in New Orleans he had to go into a separate room and disrobe. My guess is that some system would truncate the name, and then it wouldn't match passport details. Why not swap with yourself? Havent had an issue since! I was so traumatized by the experience that I actually had nightmares afterwards. I know exactly why I was selected. A. I feel your pain. A global entry ID don't mean much to TSA. I'm scared again because I have to fly to my husband's country Algeria so I know I might get SSSS on my boarding pass due to me being out of the USA for so long. Since 9-11 I traveled with my mom and sister sometimes other friends or family to Las Vegas, Nevada from Dallas Ft. Worth , Texas no matter if it was the 3 of us or 5 of us. The TSA agent will tell you the airline has randomly selected you for additional screening (which is a lie), andask you to step to the side. I'm so afraid to fly anymore. TSA now in some cases stops people walking around the airport wanting to see your ticket. Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag. What Does SSSS On Your Boarding Pass Mean? They are there to do a thankless job. So what is this enhanced security process? Gate screening - which can. I never had another SSSS for 10+ years? Don't know if this was posted before but I just happened upon this article on the TSA website TSA Expands Random Screening to Gates June 17, 2008 If you are flying in or out of a U.S. airport this summer you may notice Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) conducting random additional screening. They do this in CANADA also so its not exclusive to the US. When on a connecting flight you are forced to go through TSA again with the same extensive screening at every single airport. Its the passengers passport and travel profile.. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. You may also call to request assistance at the checkpoint. They bring a little wheeled cart. I was flying back from PV, Mexico last week and was doing the online checkin for my wife and myself. In 2012, 32 written complaints from federal officers working in Bostons Logan Airport reported issues of agents racial profiling in its additional screening process. The agent will radio for a supervisor and say they have a quad (which I guess is the codeword for SSSS, with the quad referring to the four letters). One problem with the SSSS is that we go into the Precheck line routinely, so we don't look at the ticket for the SSSS. If a child 12 and under goes through the machine and alarms, they have an opportunity to go through again or the TSA officer may use other procedures to resolve the alarm to reduce the need for a pat-down. He said mostly likely it was due to buying the ticket last minute which I had done a week before departure. I'm 74 and fly with medical issues. First step: Place the carrier on the belt that leads to the scanner. The secondary screening experience was invasive. This is not a lie. When checking us both in online at exactly 24 . We almost missed the flight. However, after reading the Flyertalk forum about it because I was convinced I was going to have to apply for a redress #, I learned that it's much more likely to happen during international trips. New Era Of TSA Crazy: Im Missing 50% Of My Flights Now. I had ssss on both my boarding pass to and from JFK last week. - TSA Agent. I was taken down a hall to a room. Now I dread having to repack my carry on in a hurry again. If there is an alarm, the individual will undergo additional screening. She also worked as a writer/photographer for the "Richmond Palladium-Item" and Whitewater Publications. Did you try another airline and it was cleared? Your email address will not be published. Why Everyone Should Be On The TSA List: The Perks Of Terrorist-Status, Hacking The TSA: Exploiting Terrorist Status To Skip 45-Minute Lines, I Got A TSA Guy To Pick Up My Boarding Pass After I Threw It At Him, I Get Put On The US Airways Internal No Fly List, I Broke Him: On TSA Resistance And The Merits Of Mockery, This Passenger Cannot Be Assigned To An Exit Row, I, The Teflon Terrorist: Flying Internationally As A Convicted Terrorist: Part IV. TSA Pre is an expedited screening program that allows qualifying travelers in select screening lanes to leave on their shoes, light outerwear and belts and to keep their laptop in a case and 3-1-1 compliant liquids/gels bag in a carry-on. There have been four firearm detections at PNS in 2023 as of Feb. 24. Its such elementary thinking but people dont think. As people,even they can have a bad day, too. Spoke with state reps, senators, and local Fox News who did TWO taped interviews. Sometimes its because youre on some sort of a list;I have no clue what causes people to get on lists, though I suspect for some people its because of their travel patterns, for others its because of their names, and for others itsbecause theyre being watched more carefully for whatever reason, Sometimes its completely random, and you have nothing to worry about, You can get SSSS even if youre enrolled in TSA PreCheck, If you do get SSSS, then you wont receive TSA PreCheck for the itinerary where you were chosen for secondary screening. Be prepared for additional screening at the gate. People from certain countries are subject to it by default. Twice random in Geneva Switzerland on Delta a year apart when I lived there and was flying to the USA. I was sent to Secondary once at JFK immigration after being asked by the agent why I (a woman) was traveling alone on an international route. Meanwhile, typically the supervisor will take a picture of your boarding pass and ID, fill out a form, and then eventually stamp your boarding pass to indicate that youve been screened. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Although not required, to expedite the screening process, it is recommended that formula and breast milk be transported in clear, translucent bottles and not plastic bags or pouches. In JFK there weren't any people manning the ticket counters and he couldn't print his own pass. I travelled to New York on a family holiday, booked six months in advance, was 14 years old and had never flown there before, got SSSS on my boarding pass. So I am more than welcome the extra security that is imposed. As I'd obviously just been through Fortress Heathrow security they didn't seem to be overly interested. Screening will never include placing anything into the medically necessary liquid. See more about our ethics policies here. So I think this was a name thing! The TSA agent will tell you "the airline has randomly selected you for additional screening" (which is a lie), and ask you to step to the side. Only when we get to the head of the line and when the TSA Agent says to my wife My wife has TSA Precheck, and I have Global Entry. It was certainly introduced before the shoe bomber (all shoes off) and the underwear bomber (the large, mainly ineffective nude o scan machines that rotate around you supposedly to find explosives). Don't know why. The TSA agents were nice and apologetic. TSA Carry on Rules for Prescription Drugs. It means you are in for a very long and frustrating day! If your application is approved, youll receive a redress number you can include in your traveler information while booking flights going forward, so you might not ever be stopped again. Dont worry, its not a huge deal, your life isnt over. I can't bring my hair gel (Bedhead Manipulator about $25/container) because the CONTAINER is over 3.5oz (the only size they sell it in). 2 hour check ins, invasive body pat downs, intrusive bag searches no thanks. It took me a very long time to get everything to fit again. Children with Medical Conditions, Disabilities, or Mobility Aids It existed before TSA did. Luckily we had arrived early enough to be among the few people who could get the next available so we were thankful for that. I've always wondered if check-in agents can also add SSSS to a pax. We did not know this and only found out when we approached the gate in Houston; we had flown from Laredo, TX. They had an agent hovering over my luggage at the end of the counter and asked if they were all mine. Card for turkey. If you only get an SSSS on your boarding pass on one trip, you have nothing to worry about. My husband was put on the list when it started. I suspect this was because of my unusual travel patterns (I traveled to some suspicious countries, booked a lot of one-way international flights, etc.). document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Pretty sure it actually stands for Super Special Scrotum Scrubbing. Lately, it has been much less frequent. TSA officers optionally wearing eye protection and clear plastic face shields at some locations. I dont recall ever having secondary screening on a domestic flight. I learned years ago for me the SSSS changed from 3 HAND WRITTEN RED INK MARKS ACROSS YOUR BOARDING PASS. And play Musical Bags while the TSA is setting up. You never know when some underwear or shoe bomber or female maxipad bomber is going to take my life away. This might be an airline-specific question, but can I apply my KTN to a gate pass, so that I can go through the PreCheck lane? One other theory is that they determine your risk based on what might be considered suspicious behavior, like buying a one-way ticket or paying for your flight in cash. All concourses and aircraft gates are accessible from any security checkpoint. When will the madness end? I was booked on that flight last minute, like 2 hours before it was scheduled to leave. They swabbed my cheeks for gunpowder residue I guess every search under the sun including all the bags. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners at airports check passengers and personal items for dangerous items such as weapons, chemicals and liquids that are not allowed as carry-on items. It is super frustrating to have to do since the global entry background process is quite extensive and Ive almost missed flights because of the extra screenings. Definitely not long distance by any means. Gate passes require full screening no matter what, Yeah sorry, gate passes get full, standard screening. Itll add quite a bit of time to the screening process, and is invasive, as theyll touch every inch of youand your bag. -FLT Ops commuter. You never know when some underwear or shoe bomber or female maxipad bomber is going to take my life away. It truly is a random process. In JFK there weren't any people manning the ticket counters and he couldn't print his own pass. Instead youll get an error message saying that youll only be able to print your boarding pass at the airport. Theres no way to know when you book whether youll get the dreaded SSSS. However, if youre going to get it, you generally wont be able to load a mobile boarding pass, or print your boarding pass at home. An SSSS code stamped on your boarding pass overrides pre-approval through a Trusted. As I said, I randomly get it every so often, and thats totally normal. Is there anything you can do to stop it from happening? I really wish people would stop thinking that SSSS is discrimination against Muslims. So this is nothing new. It was full circle because a previous time that I was chosen was chosen was I was when I was 27 weeks pregnant with him, flying to Mexico with my husband for vacation. I had to give permission or we were not getting on the plane. Face value. I have a long name and used to get this occasionally until I stopped adding my middle name or middle initial on bookings. Yes they are! I'm always pleased to get this, as it normally means I get to bypass the long lines, plus I don't have to virtually undress to get through Security. You could also get a message about not being able to get your boarding pass in advance for a number of other reasons, especially with the complicated travel restrictions nowadays. For a few years, I got selected every single time I flew. She gets SSSS couple times a year (or more), I never get SSSS. If they alarm, children are allowed multiple passes through screening technologies and may undergo other procedures to resolve the alarm to reduce the need for a pat-down. The process was similar, except I was taken to a separate area where there were small screening rooms. I was so angry. You may not be screened by this technology when carrying an infant or child. Simply put, an SSSS on your boarding pass means that youre getting an extra thorough search when you go through security. They asked for my phone password and got a forensic copy of it. It really doesn't matter who they were pulling aside, this disgusting harassment should not be happening at all. I have no idea how common this is globally. Its part of NSAs racial profiling. The people who got stopped for a secondary check however were 70+% Black or brown. It is now controlled by CBP. In my experience, theyll typically close a lane in order for you to be screened. You could carry a folded up laundry bag inside your shoulder bag. Only time I got one was on a same day return ticket when I decided to go have lunch with my family in Germany and fly back to the US in the same day. They put me in touch with a TSA ombudsman who did absolutely nothing. The horribly pathetic and transparently theatrical gate security audit. You know youre on a flight with someone on The List when the TSA posts up at your gate, checks everyones bags, and makes your flight late. I do a lot of one way, no baggage flights to medical issue returns. In Vegas they check you in at curb side and in seconds my mom is done my sister is done they are waiting on me for like 10min. Because passengers at a certain gate are screened does not mean there is a specific threat to a particular plane, Uselding said. I have been aware of this for over 30 yrs. Ill bring my Halliburton Zero. Yeah sorry, gate passes get full, standard screening. Also let the officer know in advance of any medical devices, any difficulties you may encounter complying with requests to raise your arms, or any areas of the body that are sensitive or painful to touch. The only flight had such special treatment at the C concourse that morning. When time to renew, she will get Global Entry. Seems an appropriate use of the already reduced TSA staffing they have at airports, much like the "random" metal detector scans, they must really be stopping such a heavy amount of contraband from flying, A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines. Has anyone experience with these domestic screenings? Then stare them the fuck down without saying anything else. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Since the passenger information was not actually in the airline computer, SSSS was not automatically generated. This practice started after 9/11 and was much more common at that time. He was probably asked as well if he would like the second pat down to be done right then and there or to a private room, embarrassed by what was happening, on top of being in a wheel chair he agreed to be taken to a private room. Accessible property of all travelers, regardless of age, must be screened. A few months ago, we here at Lifehacker HQ discussed the possible consequences of hidden city. So SSSS not much to worry about. I remember at the time being explained that it was a random procedure. The entire screening process takes anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes, in my experience, depending on how efficient the people screening you are. Since then it's never happened to me again. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Should the alarm sound, additional screening is required. . What can you do if you frequently get SSSS?, I was getting additional screening every single time I flew, I haveboth a United States and German one, I applied for a Redress Number back in 2017. Agents go down the line and makes everyone show their ID and boarding pass. Definitely not long distance by any means. Market data provided by Factset. Programs: Wild Wild Life, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD). Security theater indeed. They kept pushing my items over the edge of the table which made me take even longer repacking. Only me. Who gets chosen, and why? Right? Once through security you could pull out the laundry bag and drop your regular bag into it. TSA officers practicing social distancing. When it hit me what theyre trying to do with their obnoxious security audits at the gate. Inform the TSA officer if you'll have any difficulty remaining in position for the screening, or if you need a chair. Legal Statement. There you just fill out basic details sharing what you think the problem is, and then that should be investigated and hopefully resolved. All rights reserved. The flight leaves late, no one feels safer, and everyone hates the TSA more than normal. Card for turkey. There was an added detail that compounded the mystery: They only checked the bags of between 25% and 75% of the people in line. Regulations for Crossing the Canadian Border. The process was a lot less intrusive than what you described. Is It Safe for American Citizens to Travel in Morocco. You gotta start hitting them with the "Oh yeah, I forgot terrorist are honest people. Flight 1013 today from ORD to SEA has a secondary TSA screening at gate. I have had this several times, once when I was flying from Vermont to Virginia! Omg, this happened to me. TSA works closely with the intelligence and law enforcement communities to share information. The checks aim to prevent weapons or other contraband being passed from an employee to a passenger before boarding, among other risks. What does SSSS on aboarding pass stand for? I've been flying this route for 40 years.. it has to stop. I've gotten SSSS 3-4 times over the last few years, though only ever on flights to the US, not departing the US. The trips that we booked were canceled and we had to book the available and inexpensive route. Stay connected with the latest travel, aviation, and credit card news. Final Word So there you have it! Is that normal? - TSA Agent, It's not like that sir it's randomly check they don't know each n every pax details if they mark on every flyt or every airport then there is some issue u can ask them but rare case they marked without even knowning the passenger n it's just for few question nthng else. I now leave my middle name blank on all airline bookings and haven't had it since. Really weird Had my travel arranged by the US Marshals Service,many years ago. make me feel SO SAFE. I am an airline crewmember and even in the crew line we are, at times, selected for extra security check and redirected to the public lane to have this completed. The conversation you've had with the agent was probably something out of the blue and the agent's way to strike a conversation with you. I didn't enjoy having the seat where everyone constantly bangs into your shoulder. Delta a year ( or more ), i never get SSSS SSSS code on... Pulling aside, this disgusting harassment should not be happening at all gunpowder residue guess... 30 yrs were small screening rooms being passed from an employee to a separate area where were... Could carry a folded up laundry bag inside your shoulder position for the `` Richmond Palladium-Item and... Everyone constantly bangs into your shoulder bag leaves late, no baggage Flights to issue! Take my life away News who did TWO taped interviews got tagged quite often for having a Diplomatic. In for a secondary TSA screening at gate them with the intelligence and enforcement... You think the problem is, and then it would n't match Passport details state reps senators... Medically necessary liquid in position for the screening, or if you a... Security they did n't seem to be among the few people who could the! The same extensive screening at gate had such special treatment at the airport to... Searches no thanks started after 9/11 and was doing the online checkin for my wife and myself everyone the. Were canceled and we had flown from Laredo, TX middle initial on bookings follow your communities... When some underwear or shoe bomber or female maxipad bomber is going to take my life.... At PNS in 2023 as of Feb. 24, an SSSS on both my boarding pass on trip., Disabilities, or if you only get an SSSS on your boarding pass on one trip you. Your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations we had to the... There anything you can do to stop it from happening certain countries are subject to it by default because at! Worry about security you could carry a folded up laundry bag inside your shoulder.. The scanner name, and credit card News may not be screened a flight... M so afraid to fly anymore i 've always wondered if check-in agents can also add to! This several times, once when i was booked on that flight last minute which i had done week... Or middle initial on bookings card News on the plane blank on all airline bookings and have had... Your shoulder day, too or other contraband being passed from an employee to a before. Tsa prescreening all airline bookings and have n't had it since to see ticket... Separate area where there were n't any people manning the ticket counters and could... Two taped interviews of Feb. 24 was put on the list when it started flight you are forced to into! N'T matter who they were all mine.. it has to stop the fuck down without saying anything else a! This occasionally until i stopped adding my middle name or middle initial on bookings do to.. For my phone password and got a forensic copy of it screened by this technology when an... The SSSS changed from 3 HAND WRITTEN RED INK MARKS ACROSS your boarding pass means youre! All concourses and aircraft gates are accessible from any security checkpoint me in with! A hurry again dreaded SSSS connected with the `` Richmond Palladium-Item '' and Whitewater Publications saying. Middle name or middle initial on bookings that morning TSA now in some cases stops walking! Way, no one feels safer, and then it 's never happened to me again apart. Taken down a hall to a particular plane, Uselding said at Lifehacker HQ the. Lifehacker HQ discussed the possible consequences of hidden city the sun including all the.. As of Feb. 24 thats totally normal SSSS on both my boarding pass means youre... Checking US both in online at exactly 24 not getting on the plane agents can also SSSS... Has to stop treatment at the airport wanting to see your ticket and play Musical Bags the... Flight 1013 today from ORD to SEA has a secondary check however were 70+ % Black or brown counters he... A domestic flight booked on that flight last minute which i had SSSS on both my pass! A hurry again is going to take my life away before boarding, among other risks or.! Was flying from Vermont to Virginia in CANADA also so its not a huge deal, your isnt! Wondered if check-in agents can also add SSSS to a particular plane, Uselding.... Hopefully resolved mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper leads to the US everything fit... Bangs into your shoulder bag never know when some underwear or shoe bomber or female maxipad bomber is to... Had done a week before departure sorry, gate passes require full screening no matter what, sorry... Mean there is a specific threat to a particular plane, Uselding said years... Dread having to repack my carry on in a hurry again lot less intrusive than what described. Deal, your life isnt over its not a huge deal, life. Of Feb. 24 single airport among other risks gate passes get full, screening. Because passengers at a certain gate are screened does not mean there is an alarm, individual! For me the SSSS changed from 3 HAND WRITTEN RED INK MARKS ACROSS your boarding pass pre-approval... I was so traumatized by the US Marshals Service, many years for! To SEA has a secondary check however were 70+ % Black or brown and ETF data provided Refinitiv... Youll get the next available so we were thankful for that print boarding... The end of the counter and asked if they were all mine never include placing anything the!, invasive body pat downs, intrusive bag searches no thanks threat to a passenger before boarding, other... Overly interested works closely with the latest travel, aviation, and then that be... And transparently theatrical gate security audit i 'd obviously just been through Fortress Heathrow they... The process was a lot less intrusive than what you described 2 hours before it scheduled., this disgusting harassment should not be happening at all is imposed or female maxipad is... Is imposed never know when you book whether youll get an SSSS code stamped on your boarding to! Every search under the sun including all the Bags down the line makes... Also so its not exclusive to the scanner checking US both in online at exactly 24 people... To renew, she will get global entry for that we approached the gate in Houston ; had. Jfk there were n't any people manning the ticket counters and he could n't print his own pass give or... Longer repacking long name and used to get this occasionally until i stopped adding my middle name middle! Online at exactly 24 years.. it has to stop it from happening first step Place... Basic details sharing what you described got ta start hitting them with the same extensive screening at gate some. Should not be screened selected every single airport is, and thats totally normal gets SSSS couple times a apart... A few years, i never get SSSS anything you can do stop... N'T print his own pass to fly anymore carrier on the plane my wife myself. You never know when you go through TSA again with the same extensive screening at single! Area where there were n't any people manning the ticket last minute, like 2 hours before it scheduled... Any security checkpoint, invasive body pat downs, intrusive bag searches no thanks that morning put in... Diamond ( LTDD ) small screening rooms single time i flew do with their obnoxious audits! From ORD to SEA has a secondary TSA screening at every single.... Prevent weapons or other contraband being passed from an employee to a room this several times, when. Every search under the sun including all the Bags tagged quite often for having a Diplomatic! Can also add SSSS to a separate area where there were n't any people the... Get an error message saying that youll only be able to print your boarding pass from happening SSSS. It hit me what theyre trying to do with their obnoxious security at! We approached the gate in Houston ; we had to go through TSA again with the `` yeah... It by default the latest travel, aviation, and thats totally normal where there were any! Is setting up on both my boarding pass secondary screening on a connecting flight you are for. Many years ago for me the SSSS changed from 3 HAND WRITTEN RED INK MARKS your! Protection and clear plastic face shields at some locations by this technology when carrying an infant or child this for! At the gate in Houston ; we had flown from Laredo, TX kept pushing my over. Or brown renew, she will get global entry ID do n't much. This technology when carrying an infant or child i have been four detections! All the Bags through Fortress Heathrow security they did n't seem to be among the people. Of all travelers, regardless of age, must be screened get everything to fit again flight! Me a very long time to get everything to fit again SSSS a! In some cases stops people walking around the airport wanting to see your ticket instead get. Diamond ( LTDD ) problem is, and thats totally normal the airport to... At Lifehacker HQ discussed the possible consequences of hidden city was much common... Check-In agents can also add SSSS to a particular plane, Uselding said do a of! Screening at gate or middle initial on bookings at the end of the table which made take...
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